Methods and systems for providing contact information

• US 20080261568A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lopez, Matthew G., Santon, John C.
• Application Number:
  US11/789,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A system includes a communication device comprising a device database of contact information; and a lookup application communicating with the communication device and configured to identify additional contact information in a contact information database that corresponds to a piece of contact information entered into the communication device and to provide the additional contact information to the communication device. A method of providing contact information includes entering a piece of contact information into a communication device; identifying additional contact information that corresponds to the piece of contact information; and providing the additional contact information through the communication device. A system includes a search device for submitting a query regarding a searched business; a server in communication with the search device; and a lookup application resident on the server configured to receive the query and return map data showing a location of the searched business and a location of at least one sponsored business.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a communication device comprising a device database of contact information; and

a lookup application communicating with said communication device and configured to identify additional contact information in a contact information database that corresponds to a piece of contact information entered into said communication device and to provide the additional contact information to said communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a server in communication with said communication device, said server comprising said lookup application and said contact information database.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said lookup application and said contact information database are resident on said communication device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a computer with a Voice over Internet Protocol application.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a printer in communication with said server or said communication device for printing said contact information.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a map database accessible to said server, wherein said additional contact information comprises a map.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising an advertising database accessible to said server, wherein advertising from said advertising database is included by said server with said additional contact information transmitted to said communication device.

9. A method of providing contact information, said method comprising:

entering a piece of contact information into a communication device;

identifying additional contact information that corresponds to said piece of contact information; and

providing said additional contact information through said communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising printing a hardcopy of at least some of said additional contact information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said additional contact information comprises a map.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting advertising along with said additional contact information to said communication device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing said additional contact information in a device contact information database of said communication device.

14. A system comprising:

a search device for submitting a query regarding a searched business;

a server in communication with said search device; and

a lookup application resident on said server configured to receive said query and return map data showing a location of said searched business and a location of at least one sponsored business.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said search device comprises a communication device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said lookup application returns a map showing the location of said searched business if said searched business is a sponsored business.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said lookup application returns a map showing the location of said searched business and a location of at least one competing sponsored business if said searched business is not a sponsored business.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said lookup application also returns advertising corresponding to said at least one sponsored business with said map data to said search device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein a logo of said sponsored business is used to indicate a location of said sponsored business in said map data.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a printer for printing data generated by said lookup application.